FORMULA 1 - 2012

[MatthewB]

Great track and great race.

Poor old Marky, another "issue" with the car. Whats next for him "sorry mark but we forgot to put your tyres on, oh and by the way your kers is not working - again!"

Great posts, really appreciate the work you put in for the topic.

[MIKA27]

Ecclestone: Vettel lacks a little charisma

The youngest ever double world champion Sebastian Vettel lacks charisma, his friend and mentor Bernie Ecclestone has acknowledged.

But the F1 chief executive, who plays backgammon with the 25-year-old reigning world champion at grands prix, doesn’t blame the sport’s latest crop of stars.

” [Vettel] lacks a little charisma,” Briton Ecclestone, 82, told Bild newspaper, as Vettel looks set to match the achievements of greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher with his third consecutive drivers’ crown.

“Guys like Hunt, Rindt, Lauda, Senna were real characters, but they can’t be like that anymore because they are protected by the team bosses far too much. Now the FIA gives them a muzzle,” said Ecclestone.

“They’re not even allowed to show their emotions,” he exclaimed.

[MIKA27]

Great track and great race.

Poor old Marky, another "issue" with the car. Whats next for him "sorry mark but we forgot to put your tyres on, oh and by the way your kers is not working - again!"

Great posts, really appreciate the work you put in for the topic.

Hi Matt and welcome to the forum and thread!

Many thanks for your post, glad to hear you enjoy it. I think this season has been most successful so will most deff post again for next season.

Regards,

Mika

[MIKA27]

Nico Hulkenberg: I think we can be proud of the results we achieved together

Nico Hulkenberg will be donning his Force India race suit for the last time when he competes in the Brazilian Grand Prix, the final round of the 2012 FIA Formula One world championship season, before heading off to the Sauber team next year.

Hulkenberg has spent two years with Force India, the first in 2011 as a reserve driver before being promoted to the race suit for this season. The German has grabbed the opportunity to enhance his reputations as one of the young drivers with a big future in the sport despite not having any financial clout to buy his way into teams.

Ahead of the weekend in Sao Paulo, Hulkenberg said of his two years with the team, “First of all I want to thank everyone for believing in me and giving me the chance to return to F1 this year as a race driver. I’ve learned a lot during the last two seasons, even as a third driver, and the time has flown by very quickly. It’s a great team of people; they’re fun to work with.”

At the start of the season Hulkenberg struggled to match his highly rated teammate Paul di Resta, but as the season evolved so did the German and has for some time now has outshone the Scot.

“I think we can be proud of the results we achieved together. That’s why it was not an easy decision to leave, but I’m happy to be leaving with good memories. The task now is to end the year in style with a great result,” affirmed the 25 year old German from Emmerich am Rhein.

He added, “It has been very positive. We had some good results in the first half too, but I think we found our consistency after the summer break. I think some of my best races were Japan and Korea where we didn’t necessarily expect to do so well. To score points there was very satisfying. Also, races such as Austin, where I was under so much pressure towards the end are the moments I will remember from the second part of the year. These were races where we maximised everything.”

Hulkenberg has scored more than half of Force India’s points this season and he goes to Interlagos, scene of his sensational pole position winning lap back in 2010 when driving for Williams.

[MIKA27]

Being first of the losers means $10-million extra for McLaren

McLaren’s battle for the 2012 Formula One Drivers’ and Constructors’ crowns is over, but Jenson Button said that the Woking based team, whose ‘supremo’ Ron Dennis once famously reiterated the phraze, “second is just first of the losers”, is nonetheless determined to be runner-up.

Red Bull has now secured the constructors’ title for this year, but McLaren is just 14 points behind Ferrari for second place, with just this weekend’s Brazilian showdown left to run.

Britain’s Sun newspaper said the difference between second and third is almost $10 million in Concorde Agreement prize-money.

“The constructors’ title does mean a lot to me because it is a lot of money,” driver Jenson Button confirmed. I think we can do it, but we will need the perfect weekend.

“It is also nice to get one over on Ferrari. We want to finish in front of them.

“We are a competitive team. We cannot beat Red Bull but we can beat Ferrari, which has to be our aim.”

[MIKA27]

Lewis Hamilton: I vow that I’ll give it my all on every single lap at Interlagos

The Brazilian Grand Prix weekend is sure to be an emotional weekend in the McLaren camp as Lewis Hamilton’s tenure with the team, that nurtured him from karting to the Formula 1 world title, comes to an end in Sao Paulo, before the Briton moves on to the next chapter of his career with the Mercedes team.

Hamilton recalled, “Brazil has been the scene of some epic races for me during my time at Vodafone McLaren Merecedes and, for many reasons, this weekend will be a very big race for me. I nearly won the title here in 2007, clinched it on the final turn in 2008 and drove like crazy to finish on the podium in 2009.”

“But I’ve never won: and that’s what I’ll be aiming to do this time around. As [this will be my] my final race behind the wheel of a McLaren. I vow to the whole team that I’ll give it my all on every single lap,” he promised.

Hamilton and McLaren will look back on a year which could have been very different had reliability not plagued the team in the final stages of the season, before Singapore they were well positioned in the standings. But on a balmy night in Singapore, Hamilton retired while leading comfortably, and allowed Sebastian Vettel to go on to win the race. In retrospect that was the turning point of the title battle.

Thereafter another DNF, while leading, in Abu Dhabi ended his title ambitions.

Nevertheless Hamilton bounced back to win the United States Grand Prix, by out racing Vettel, and said, “My win in Austin last week was one of the races of my life, and I’d love to take victory in Brazil this weekend to give the team the perfect farewell present.”

The weekend in Sao Paulo is all about the title battle between Vetel and Fernando Alonso, something which the 2008 world champion acknowledges, “Finally, a word on the championship; it’s a very finely poised battle, and neither Sebastian nor Fernando can afford to relax for a moment. They are both fantastic drivers, and both have driven superbly all season. Now, we’ll see who takes the final honours – I hope it’s an epic contest.”

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh,”This weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix will be Lewis’s final race for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – the end of a long, and successful, chapter in the team’s history.”

[MIKA27]

Whiting clears Red Bull over flexi-rubber wing

The FIA’s technical chief Charlie Whiting has played down claims that Red Bull has pushed the rules further than any rival with its supposedly flexible rubber-like front wing.

Video footage of a mechanic removing Sebastian Vettel’s damaged front nose during a recent pitstop caused alarm in the F1 paddock, as the nose appeared to bend, flex and twist as though it was made of rubber.

Reports suggested that the team, led on the technical front by so-called ‘F1 genius’ Adrian Newey, had pushed the envelope further than ever in the realm of flexible parts.

Subsequent reports also claimed that the Red Bull RB 8′s nose actually behaved quite normally, given the qualities of the tips of F1 cars’ noses for the FIA crash-test requirements.

Indeed, Charlie Whiting is quoted by Italy’s Autosprint: “What happened with Vettel in Abu Dhabi was an extreme case, because the mechanic grabbed the nose and gave it a twist.

“I am sure that would also happen on any other car,” he added.

[MIKA27]

Schumacher had no choice but to retire claims Stuck

Hans-Joachim Stuck, a former Formula One driver and now president of Germany’s motor racing federation DMSB, thinks that Michael Schumacher was pushed back into retirement.

After a less-than-shining three year comeback with Mercedes, seven time world champion Schumacher will retire again after his 308th and final career grand prix this weekend in Brazil.

The famous German also ‘retired’ in Brazil six years ago.

“It will probably be less emotional for me this time than in 2006, when we [Ferrari] were still fighting for the championship and everything was much more intense,” Schumacher said this week.

Schumacher and Mercedes have gone to great lengths to counter the perception that the 43-year-old is being callously ousted to make room for 2013 arrival Lewis Hamilton.

But when asked about Schumacher’s impending retirement, Stuck is quoted by spox.com: “He had no choice.

“Mercedes signed Lewis Hamilton and Michael couldn’t find another adequate cockpit.”

Stuck said that he regrets that F1′s most successful driver of all time will no longer be on the grid from next year.

“I would like to have kept watching him try to match up to the younger drivers,” said the 61-year-old.

[MIKA27]

Red Bull leaves cowboy boots bill in Austin

Reigning world champions Red Bull seem to have left Austin without paying a bill.

Germany’s Bild newspaper reports that, prior to the US grand prix, the team pre-ordered a pair of customised, Red Bull-branded cowboy boots for Sebastian Vettel.

But Noel Escobar, the Austin-based master boot maker, told the newspaper: “We worked through the night but no one came to pick them up.

“Red Bull owes me $2,150.”

Red Bull told Bild that it had to cancel the order at short notice, but is happy to pay the bill.

[MIKA27]

Felipe Massa's upturn a major boost for F1 title hopes

Felipe Massa's upturn in form is a major boost for Ferrari's Formula 1 world championship aspirations going into the Brazilian Grand Prix season finale, reckons team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Massa's disappointing performances led to the Brazilian nearly losing his seat during the summer, before Ferrari elected to keep the faith with him for an eighth year.

For much of their three seasons together, Massa has been some way from team-mate Fernando Alonso's pace. He currently trails the Spaniard by 153 points in the standings and has only taken one podium finish this year.

But at Austin last weekend, Massa was Ferrari's pacesetter for much of the event.

He accepted a deliberate gearbox-change penalty to benefit Alonso's grid position, before charging from 11th to fourth - close behind his team-mate - in the race.

With Alonso needing to get several cars between him and championship rival Sebastian Vettel at Interlagos this weekend in order to overturn the Red Bull driver's 13-point cushion, Domenicali says Massa could be vital.

"He drove extremely well during the whole weekend and this is something that is positive looking ahead for Brazil, because we need both our drivers doing a really great race if we want to challenge Vettel to win the drivers' title," he said.

"Everything is possible, anything can happen. It is for me vital that we stay cool and concentrated and work hard and do the maximum we can do and if Sebastian wins, then we will congratulate him."

Massa agreed that his improvement was well-timed, both for his chances of assisting Ferrari in the title hunt, and in the hope of a stronger 2013 campaign.

"Even before August, things were getting better and better all the time and getting to the best shape," he said.

"There's just one more race to finish the championship but I think it's good for next year.

"For sure I hope the car changes a lot for next year to be more competitive, but the rules are more or less the same so I don't think there will be a big change in how the car feels, so this is very important."

[MIKA27]

Force India seriously considering Sutil for '13

Adrian Sutil could very well return to the Formula One grid next season after Force India team principal Vijay Mallya confirmed he was evaluating the German.

The team has an open seat for 2013 following the news that Nico Hulkenberg will head to Sauber next year to replace the McLaren bound Sergio Perez.

Sutil, who previously drove for the team between 2006 - when it was known as Midland F1 and then Spyker MF1 - to 2011, before being dropped in favour of Hulkenberg.

Mallya has yet to confirm either of its drivers, but it's highly likely that they will retain Paul di Resta. The second seat however remains open with names such as Jules Bianchi and Jaime Alguersuari doing the rounds.

The Indian businessman seems keen on Sutil though after admitting there isn't enough young talent in the pipeline to join the outfit.

"We are in no immediate hurry [to announce our drivers] because there does not seem to be the kind of quality we need to replace Nico, either in the current grid or in GP2," he said. "We have to think a little bit beyond that, which we are doing now."

Mallya then went on to compliment the 29-year-old former driver.

"We need a driver who is clearly talented, a driver who is clearly quick," he continued. "What we have found amongst our team drivers is that if they push one another it brings out the best in both of them, so it is very important for us to have somebody who is able to push Paul.

"I am looking at options such as even bringing Adrian Sutil back. Adrian was always a very quick driver - yes, he was out of Formula One for one year, but I don’t think that this would be a major handicap.

"So yes, I am looking and evaluating very carefully. The driver is very important for the team as a whole and we want to make the right call."

[MIKA27]

Raikkonen to complete comeback with perfect record

Kimi Raikkonen looks set to be the first driver since Nick Heidfeld in 2008 (BMW) to finish every race in a complete formula one season.

The Finn's rare feat, delivering him an almost certain third in the drivers' points standings, has coincided with his return to the sport with Lotus after a two-year rallying hiatus.

"Our record shows that the team can build a reliable car and that I know how to drive it," said Raikkonen.

Meanwhile, the former McLaren and Ferrari driver gave the same three-word answer - "Never give up" - to three separate questions in an interview for F1's official website.

The questions were: "What's been your most valuable life lesson?", "If you could give your younger self some advice what would it be?", and "What's the best advice you have been given?"

[MIKA27]

F1 to see 'the real Grosjean' in 2013 - boss

Eric Boullier has once again played down speculation Romain Grosjean's place at Lotus is in doubt for 2013.

At the end of a tumultuous season for Frenchman Grosjean, the 26-year-old admitted this week that he is yet to sign a new deal for next season.

But team boss Boullier told French-language f1i.com: "We believe in him.

"For us he is a long-term project and we consider him to be similar to (what McLaren did with) Lewis Hamilton.

"He has shown he is able to do superb racing, but then of course there were some errors that sometimes cost him very dearly.

"More recently he has been a bit more cautious and has been building up again, but I am sure that in 2013 we will see the real Romain," he added.

[MIKA27]

Alonso rings the bell at NYSE for Hurricane Sandy relief

Fernando Alonso’s brief visit to New York ended with him being the guest of honour at today’s closing ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. The Scuderia Ferrari driver pressed the button that activates the traditional ring of the bell as part of a ceremony instigated by the Santander Bank, which donated the considerable sum of 250,000 dollars to the American Red Cross to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

“It’s a privilege for me to be here for an occasion like this: it’s strange to be part of something that I’d only seen on television before!” said Fernando to the media who were present. “It’s a good day for Santander and the Red Cross, who can do something really useful to help those who suffered in this storm. I am happy to have spent this week in the States, first in Austin and now in New York: Formula 1 needs this country but it is not yet that popular so it is important for teams and drivers to do all they can to promote our sport. Would I race in an American series like Nascar? I’ve never tried it out or even thought about it, but who knows in the future… When I’ve finished my Formula 1 career, sooner or later this could be a possibility.”

Many of the questions even on Wall Street, concerned the imminent Brazilian Grand Prix, which will decide the outcome of the 2012 Championship. “We know it will be difficult for us, but we are confident,” said Fernando. “We must do our utmost, concentrating on ourselves and making no mistakes and then we can see what Vettel has done. It’s been a championship of highs and lows for everyone, but now we can only be perfect. However, I think we can sleep more easily than our rivals: we have a lot to gain and little to lose and for them it’s the opposite. In 2010 the situation was reversed so I hope that once again the outcome goes in favour of the one who is behind at the moment. I don’t think the track will condition the result: we have seen that Red Bull is strong on all types of track so that should also be the case in Interlagos. But Formula 1 is strange and anything can happen: the important thing is not to be caught out unprepared.”

Fernando flies off to Sao Paolo tonight: from Thursday morning, with an FIA press conference at 11, the key weekend of one of the most fascinating championships in recent years will get underway.

[MIKA27]

TITLE RIVALS PAY TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL SCHUMACHER:

On the eve of their championship deciding race in Brazil, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso paid tribute to Michael Schumacher, who will start his 306th and last Grand Prix on Sunday, aged 43.

The pair come at it from different angles; Alonso raced hard against Schumacher from when he got a competitive car in 2003 and they contested the 2006 world championship, which Alonso won.

“I think we will always remember the privilege to race and compete with someone like Michael that will be record in history of Formula One, maybe for a very long time and we’ve been there, we’ve been in the grid close to him,” said Alonso. “As Michael said, some good fights and great respect on the circuit and always constantly learning with someone that changed a little bit this sport.”

Their battles in Imola in 2005 and 2006 are among many highlights in the Alonso versus Schumacher history.

Vettel meanwhile, grew up in a Germany which was obsessed with Schumacher’s first career; 13 million Germans tuning in every week to see him win his seven F1 world titles. And Schumacher has clearly been a force of encouragement for the man who takes on his mantle in the eyes of German fans.

“I think it’s a little bit different for me because obviously I had the privilege to meet Michael when I was a small kid,” said Vettel in Thursday’s FIA press conference at Interlagos. “He was my childhood hero, he was a true inspiration back then, for me and for many other kids, as he mentioned, in Kerpen.

“He was taking care of the championship held in Kerpen and came to the last race, gave all the trophies to everyone, every child, more than 100 at the time, so he was very patient and now, obviously, we understand that the busy schedule that he had, taking that extra time for the fans but especially for us, for the kids who were racing, was something very special, a very special memory.

“When I met him the first time, obviously I didn’t know what to say because I didn’t want to ask something stupid but for sure, I remember these moments and then later on. Today I think it’s a little bit different because you are more grown up, you have a normal relationship so when I talk to him now, it doesn’t feel like talking to my childhood hero, it feels like talking to Michael so I see the person rather than what he has achieved but obviously, if you remind yourself of that and the fact that I was racing against him for the last couple of years, unfortunately not as close as he probably shared with Fernando, but still that thought or that image was very very far away when I was a small kid, because obviously he was already in Formula One but for me it was a dream so very far away but very special for the last couple of years, very special the relationship we share and I think he will always be an inspiration for myself.”

[MIKA27]

Sebastian Vettel: It is more than just the car

Sebastian Vettel has rubbished claims that he owes his Formula One success to having the most dominant car in the field.

This weekend's season finale in Brazil is the title showdown for the Drivers' Championship with Vettel the favourite to take the crown.

Should the 25-year-old succeed in bagging his third successive title he will become F1's youngest triple World Champion.

But despite his triumphs in the sport, many still question whether it is Vettel or the car and if he could do the same driving a lesser machine.

The Red Bull racer, though, reckons it takes both a strong driver and a strong car to mimic his run.

"I think if you look back I don't know how far, as far as I can look back, there were never people really, really successful in a really bad car," he explained.

"It is a natural thing to happen: one day you have a strong driver in a strong team so you end up with a strong combination and that is difficult to beat."

Vettel added that he paid his dues while driving for Toro Rosso, who he achieved his first race win with back at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.

"It's natural to be in a weaker car. We have all been in that situation. Michael [schumacher] started in a Jordan, which was not competitive, but had some highlights, Fernando started in a Minardi and set some highlights.

"I started at BMW replacing Robert [Kubica] for one race, which was a great chance, and then afterwards got the seat in Toro Rosso, which at the time was not a competitive car, but we did a good job and even won a race.

"We had a great season, the step up to Red Bull Racing was great fun and a fantastic season - the first time to be competitive, finish on the podium and win races. It was a fairly normal way I went."

Vettel arrives in Brazil with a 13-point advantage over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso who is also chasing his third World Championship title.

[MIKA27]

Massa wants third Brazilian win

Felipe Massa will be chasing the victory in Sunday's Brazilian GP even though he knows the weekend is about his team-mate and the Championship.

Massa's role as Ferrari's number two driver was brought into sharp focus last time out in the United States when Ferrari deliberately penalised the driver ahead of the grand prix.

The Scuderia broke the seal on Massa's gearbox thereby handing him an automatic five-place penalty on the grid. This was done to ensure that Fernando Alonso started on the clean side of the grid.

But despite his role within the team, Massa says he will be fighting for his third Brazilian GP victory come Sunday's 71-lap season finale.

"First of all, I will be trying to win here for the third time," he said when asked what he could do to help Alonso to the title.

"That's always the right direction to approach all races, always thinking about the possibility of victory.

"This is a very special place for me of course and I will be trying to win.

"Hopefully, Fernando can come second and win the Championship without any problems!"

Looking back over his season, which has yielded just one podium finish and not a single victory, Massa admits it has been a difficult one.

"This has been a tough year and even in races where I was going well, for various reasons the results did not come.

"But after August everything went better and I got the right result at almost every race, so a very good second part of the season and a good preparation for next year."

[MIKA27]

Vettel unfazed as rain threatens

Sebastian Vettel is not concerned about the weather playing a significant role in this weekend's title decider.

The final race of this Formula One season could be an extremely wet one with thunderstorms forecast for Saturday's qualifying and heavy rain for Sunday's race.

The weather could play into the hands of Vettel's title rival, Fernando Alonso, as his Ferrari is no match to the RB8 in the dry but has won two wet races already this season.

Vettel, though, is very relaxed about the situation.

"I think in terms of general preparation we do what we can; weather wise... it's Sao Paulo," said the German during Thursday's press conference.

"It's the same as if you go to Spa, things change quickly and the weather changes a lot here.

"I spoke some locals and I think there was a big rain [storm] a few days ago which wasn't expected.

"Probably for Saturday and Sunday there is some rain on the way, but you don't know how much, or when.

"I asked Pirelli if they had all the containers here with the rain tyres, and that's the case, so I don't think we have to be concerned!"

Should it stay dry, though, Vettel is in the pound seats as he holds a 13-point advantage over Alonso and is expected to be behind the wheel of the more superior of the two cars at a track where Red Bull have won the last three seasons.

"The circuit seemed to suit our car in previous years. We need to confirm it this year.

"So all eyes on Friday to start the weekend to get into the groove. I think we can be as confident as we could in this stage. Obviously we know there is a lot ahead but I think we are in a great position."

[MIKA27]

Coca-Cola returns with 'burn' and Lotus

Coca-Cola have teamed up with Lotus, sponsoring the team through their "burn" brand for next year's Championship.

Rumours of Coca-Colas joining Formula One have been making the rounds for the last few weeks.

However, while many expected the deal would be with McLaren, the company announced on Friday that it was with Lotus.

"We're honoured to announce that we have joined the Lotus F1 team and are set to enter the world of F1 racing," a statement on the Burn website said.

"The Lotus team is the number one emerging challenger in the sport and has demonstrated exceptional creativity in their approach to F1.

"We [intend] to foster that creativity by incorporating art and music in a way that will break the conventions of traditional F1 sponsorship."

Lotus team boss Eric Boullier welcomed the multi-year sponsorship by "burn" which is an energy brand.

"We are proud that The Coca-Cola Company has chosen Lotus F1 Team as the best vehicle to represent the burn brand in its most high profile partnership," he said.

"We are excited to partner with burn to build a new and innovative model for sponsorships that will combine experiences, content creation and social media ; an area in which our team has been at the cutting edge in Formula 1 for the past 18 months, recording the highest growth rate amongst fans this year."

[MIKA27]

Fernando Alonso: What will happen will happen

A pragmatic Fernando Alonso concedes all Ferrari can do in Brazil is everything "perfectly" - the rest is not up to them.

The double World Champion heads into Sunday's showdown in Sao Paulo needing nothing short of a podium finish to even stand a chance of beating Sebastian vettel to the crown.

After that, the rest is up to Red Bull and Lady Luck.

"There are 71 laps to go that will decide the final outcome: the efforts of several months will all come down to a very short space of time," said Alonso.

"Then what will happen will happen and the important thing is that we do everything perfectly: then only luck can be out of our hands.

"We know that a place on the podium alone could be enough. I have confidence in myself and in the team and we will fight right to the end."

The Ferrari admits he goes into the grand prix with a car that is "not super competitive" nor does he expect it to suddenly improve as the team will only be taking a "few small" upgrades to Interlagos.

"We are honest with ourselves and our fans: we know we are not super competitive, but if we are still in the running, it's down to the team which is the best of the lot.

"We will have a few small updates, but the others will have done the same, so the situation won't change much. Maybe finding a good set-up can make the difference or the way the car suits the circuit."

This season is not the first time that Alonso and Vettel have gone into the final race of the Championship fighting for the crown.

In 2010 it was the Red Bull racer who was disadvantaged as he trailed Alonso and his own team-mate Mark Webber. However, a victory in Abu Dhabi while Alonso and Webber were stuck in traffic assured the German of his first crown.

"Would a win be revenge for 2010 in Abu Dhabi?" Alonso said. "No, I think it would just be happiness for us, as for 99 percent of the people, although maybe not for those at Red Bull...

"Ferrari is something special, with everyone giving 100 percent and even more, because they feel part of this family: not just in Formula 1 but also on the commercial side, because when they see a Ferrari drive by on the road, they know that a part of that car, even if it's very small is made by them."

[MIKA27]

Raikkonen chasing Brazilian win

More than just finishing in Brazil to retain his 100 percent record, Kimi Raikkonen is eager to fight for the victory.

Raikkonen is the only driver to have finished every grand prix this campaign and the Finn has also scored in every one bar China where he was 14th.

It's an impressive record and one the Lotus driver is hoping to maintain in the season finale at Interlagos.

But more than the finish, Raikkonen is intent on spending the 71 laps racing towards the victory.

"I like racing, so it's good to be on track as much as possible; no-one likes ending a race early," he said.

"Our record shows that the team can build a reliable car and that I know how to drive it.

"The last round of the season means that it's the last chance to enjoy that feeling for some time. That's what a driver loves; to put a helmet on and go racing.

"Every time I get in the car I want to fight for victory and this is no different; I want to celebrate a good result with the team in Brazil.

"That would give the best feeling for the winter and also for next season."

The Interlagos circuit, home to the Brazilian GP, is a special place for Raikkonen as it is where he clinched his one and only Drivers' Championship title.

"There is no doubt about it; the greatest day of my career came at Interlagos when I won the World Championship in 2007 and that means I have very fond memories of this place.

"All in all it has been good to me. I have finished here every year since 2003 and been on the podium five times. Actually, in 2003 they gave the winners' trophy to me but afterwards it turned out I only got P2.

"I have lived some of the best moments of my life at this circuit, and that's something nobody can take away. That's why it is one of my favourite places to go back to."

[MIKA27]

Sauber driver announcement in Brazil

Sauber will announce during the course of this weekend's Brazilian GP who will partner Nico Hulkenberg next season.

Hulkenberg will join Sauber for next season as Sergio Perez is departing for McLaren having signed a long-term deal with the Woking outfit.

However, whether Sauber will have an all-new line-up or retain Kamui Kobayashi remains to be seen.

The Japanese driver is keen to hold onto his race-seat but faces stiff competition from TelMex-backed Esteban Gutierrez.

"We have always said it will be 'in the season'," Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn told Autosport.

"So it will be before Brazil, in Brazil or a few hours after the race."

[MIKA27]

Webber hoping for 'smooth' finale

Mark Webber is hoping to end his 2012 campaign on a strong note and after the chequered flag in Brazil.

The penultimate grand prix of the season, the US GP, ended prematurely for Webber as he was forced to park his RB8 when it suffered an alternator failure.

It was not the first time this season that he had experienced troubles, whether caused by rivals, his own car or his Pirelli tyres.

The Aussie, though, is hoping to avoid all that this weekend as he bids for a tenth career victory.

"Brazil is a great way to finish the year," said last year's Brazilian GP winner.

"It's one of my most favourite weekends because of the history with the drivers they've had; Senna, Piquet and Fittipaldi, these guys did a huge amount for the sport.

"Interlagos is a legendary circuit, it's got a great atmosphere, there's always been a bit of drama and also there is always a bit of weather floating around.

"It's a grand prix that I have done well at in the past.

"It would be good to have a smooth weekend with no issues, a clean start and the car running smoothly for the whole weekend, then I'm sure we can finish the season very strongly."

[MIKA27]

Williams race deal won’t change my life says Bottas

Reserve driver Valtteri Bottas insists that securing a contract to race for Williams in 2013 would not change his life.

The young Finn, who this year has been testing on Fridays for the famous British team, is waiting to know if he will debut as expected, alongside Pastor Maldonado next year.

“I don’t think it would change anything,” Bottas told Finland’s Turun Sanomat, when asked how a race contract would change his life.

“I would race just as I have done in other classes. Of course, I would then be racing against the very best in the world’s fastest cars, but on the other hand, nothing else changes,” he insisted.

“This year has been good in the sense that I know now what to expect through a season. I’ve been all over the place.

“Of course, it takes more energy to do more driving, and perhaps even more media work as well as more with the sponsors, even in the breaks.”

As for his likely 2013 teammate, Bottas said he has a “good relationship” with Venezuelan Maldonado, and thinks that the pair would enjoy a competitive 2013 car.

“The rules are staying the same and so I think the balance of power will be pretty much the same as now,” he said.

“Some though will make small improvements. At Williams we have been developing the car for a long time and we believe that it will certainly be better than this year.”

[MIKA27]

Sao Paulo engulfed in crime wave as F1 lands in the city

A nervous Formula One circus has landed in Sao Paulo for the 2012 season finale, amid reports of more than 1000 murders committed in the Brazilian city this year.

Britain’s Guardian said the worse-than-usual bloodshed is due to drug-linked organised crime.

“We are not staying in gangland, though the track is near there,” a team boss is quoted as saying. “But we don’t go out in team colours.”

Jenson Button, who two years ago was nearly the victim of an armed attack in Sao Paulo, admitted this week: “We are [using] armoured vehicles and a police escort.”

According to the Times newspaper, the US state department is describing the Sao Paulo violence as “critical” and has warned against gangs targeting foreigners.

Gangs aside, the F1 world – and title protagonists Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso in particular – have their eyes on the weather forecast.

The leading Brazilian authority Climatempo is predicting “intense rain” for qualifying and the race.

With Ferrari’s Alonso hoping desperately for rain in order to pull back the dominance of Vettel’s Red Bull, Dr Helmut Marko insisted: “Sebastian is also an excellent rain driver.”

McLaren’s Button commented: “There is a massive chance that it could be chucking down. [The title] is definitely not done.”